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[[2 images]] Vegetation Patterns Rainfall decreases drastically from around 800 mm (32") along the coast to less than 400 mm (16") inland. Tropical forest fringes the bay (Baia de Maputo-1), but dry thorn tree forest dominates inalnd, even on the prominent, but low Lembombo Mountains (2). Rainfall is locally high along the South-African-Swaziland escarpment (west of the Mozambique border): extensive commercial pine forests have been planted in such areas and appear from low Earth orbit as dark green, angular areas (3). Some of the oldest rocks in the world (3.8 billion years)are exposed along the escarpment. (S08-35-1302) Contrasting Landscapes The Komati, Sabie and Olifants Rivers (1,2,3) all drain eastern South Africa; they cut through the low Lebombo Mountains (4-4) and enter the broad coastal plains of Mozambique. The sharper, narrower patterns west of the Mountains result from rivers flowing in hard, faulted rocks; on the east side, in Mozambique, rivers flow on their own, younger unconsolidated sediments, forming very broad floodplains (5). Recent soil erosion allows these areas to be more easily seen. Political accords between South Africa and Mozambique were signed at the small border town of Komatipoort (6) a few years ago in an attempt to quell fighting in Mozambique. (S08-38-2386)